"Art is Fun 7 IN/OUT"
From July 6 to September 1, 1996
Held At Hara Museum ARC
2844 Kanai Shibukawa-shi, Gunma prefecture
(Ikaho Green Bokujo Property)
Tel. 0279-24-6585
Open hours 10:00 am to 4:30 pm (admission by 4 pm).
Open hours will be extended during August 11 to 18, to 5:30 pm
(admission by 5 pm).
Open everyday during August.

At "Art is Fun 7 IN/OUT" held at the Hara Museum ARC, on August 10 and 11, one can experience the "Inter-Discommunication Machine" introduced in 1993 by Kazuhiko Hashiya, an artist who became known for his "mega diary". The "Inter-Discommunication Machine" is a goggle-like monitor that shows your partner's visual field. It was interesting to see one couple trying the machine. The boy said to his girlfriend in a surprised tone, "You're always looking at me over here (pointing to his chest)!". Apparently, the boy was much taller than his girlfriend. Often spoken is the phrase "put yourself in other people's shoes", but the machine provides an interesting experience demonstrating, in a fun way, how it is truly easier said than done. Among the workshops there are also the workshop with Taizo Matsumura (August 3 and 4, reservation required), and a live performance by Synov Takeuchi (August 10, reservation required). The exhibition will also display works by Soichi Arichi + Takashi Sasaoka, Takamitsu Kido, Hisaya Kojima, Atsuhiko Sekiguchi, and Hiroyuki Moriwaki. Located two hours away from Tokyo on the JR line, close to the Ikaho Green Bokujo and the Ikaho Onsen, the art museum is a perfect place for families to visit during their summer vacation. Cafe d'Art serves the well-known cakes that are made based on the themes of the works in the exhibition.

[Tsukasa MORI/Curator]

Tadashi Kawamata "Coal Mine Project in Kyushu"

June, 1996

the press announcement of the project

From October 30 to November 24, 1996

"Kawamata Coal Mine in Tagawa"
at the Tagawa City Art Museum

from 1997

the work will start in Tagawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture

Tadashi Kawamata "Coal Mine Project in Kyushu"

Makoto MURATA

Summary

In Tagawa City, the central area in the Tsukuhou coal field, the artist, Tadashi Kawamata will erect a gigantic tower. Coal is an energy source which has supported the modernization of Japan, but today it has been forgotten as a remnant of the past. However, within the coal industry, various problems that arose in the process of the modernization of Japan are compressed, such as labor movements and labor accidents, pollution and environmental problems, and discrimination towards foreign laborers (these are the fundamental social issues of Japan). Therefore, taking another look at the coal industry would mean the same as re-questioning the state of Japan today. As one means to achieve this, Kawamata plans to build a tower of 50 meters resembling a shaft mine. He will stay for about a month every year in Tagawa City, and will build it together with the people of Tagawa. Kawamata was born in Mikasa City known as a coal-producing area in Hokkaido, and his father was working in a mine.

Checkpoint

Although it is planned to build a tower of 50 meters, this is only a plan presented by Kawamata, and in the actual construction, upon discussion with the Tagawa citizens, he will decide the height and the shape of the tower with their participation. The funding will basically be done by Kawamata, however, he is said to actively request for participation by sponsors and staff, and for the procurement of material. In other words, there is no detailed plan or complete blue print at the outset. This project is one which constantly changes and where conditions and restrictions are considered as they occur. Because of its nature, it could take 10 years or even 20 years until completion, or it may not meet its completion and become a project which involves perpetual creation. The objective of this project is not to complete the tower, but it is in the process of developing this project together with the people. Kawamata says, "Like the Sagrada Familia Temple, (we) want to sustain the will to continue making".

[Makoto MURATA/Art Journalist]

IZUMIWAKU Project 1996

From August 17 to 31, 1996
Held at the Suginami Ward Izumi Junior High School
and its peripheral areas.

This is the second exhibition of the "IZUMIWAKU Project", a contemporary art exhibition held at public junior high schools last summer. In this exhibition, works by more than 30 artists including Taro Okamoto, Tatsuji Ushijima, Yoshiaki Kaihatsu, Takashi Murakami, Josep Maria Martin will be displayed, and performances, workshops, and symposiums by artists such as Masaki Miyamae and Kazue Mizushima will be held. Besides the central spot of the Izumi Junior High School, the project will involve perpheral art spaces and shopping streets.

Checkpoint

The beginning of this project started when Takashi Murakami, an ex-art teacher at the Izumi Junior High School, posted a piece of an abstract print in the classroom, and the students showed unexpectedly positive reactions. There is no public art museum in the Suginami Ward, but rather than investing a huge sum of money to build one, this plan was to change existing schools into art museums just during the summer holiday period. The educational committee and the PTA of the ward approved, and the project was realized two years ago. Also, besides simply opening an exhibition at a public junior high school, because this meant that this was an introduction of contemporary art into the educational scene, it had the students' parents participating as volunteers, and it was an event rooted in the community, the media took this up, creating a sensation. This became an opportunity for exhibitions and events to be held at educational institutions, and it is positioned as a pioneer trial of such an attempt.

[Makoto MURATA/Art Journalist]

The largest existing exhibition hall in Japan

"Atopic Site"
From August 1 (Thurs) to 25 (Sun) at the Tokyo Big Sight West 3 Hall

"On Camp/Off Base"
From August 10 (Sat) to 19 (Mon) at the Tokyo Big Sight West 4 Hall

"Tokyo Art Zone"
From August 10 (Sat) to 19 (Mon) at the Tokyo Big Sight West 4 hall

On August 10, from 2 pm, there will be a symposium ("The Topic That Is Atopic") held by the curators of the GALLERY, Hiroshi Kashiwagi, Kenjiro Okazaki, Akira Tatehata, Naoyuki Takashima, and Yukiko Shikata.

This is a project which tries to provide a place where we can envision the potentials of the city in the 21st century and art. This is hoped to be achieved through the citizens enjoying new surprises and joy in encountering the 20th century art which had developed through having close connections with life in the city, and through witnessing the moment of art creation.

The project is composed of three programs, "Atopic Site", "On Camp/Off Base", and "Tokyo Art Zone".

"Atopic Site"

Artists who tackle issues related to the city through activities held in public spaces and communities, create a vision for the future by pursuing the possible revival of the urban environment. The relationship between the city and art is demonstrated by transferring their works produced in urban spaces to the Atopic Site exhibition. The works will again prove their functions by being returned to their original locations after the event.

Participants include groups like Moelyono, that plays an important role in the grassroots activities in rural villages of Indonesia, OCEAN EARTH, that deals with environmental and ecological issues, and FAMA, an organization that seeks possibilities in war-torn Sarajevo from the perspective of 'survival'. Individuals taking part in the exhibition are Vadim Zakharov, who questions his own identity in the Western European culture in a cynical and humorous way, Shu Lea Cheang, Suzanne Lacy, Vito Acconci, and others.

"On Camp/Off Base"

This exhibition introduces young artists who do not care to fit themselves into the conventional framework of art. By using trucks and containers as mobile exhibition spaces, the "On Camp/Off Base" program aims to go beyond the traditional exhibitions which tend to run for a limited period and at restricted locations. Participating artists are Edward Smith, Nina Fischer & Maroan El Sani, Sheree Rose, Skip Arnold, Phillip Lai, Yuji Kitagawa, Yohei Narumi, HiroshiFiji, Ideal Copy, Kazuhiko Hachiya, Miho Shirai, Masaki Miyamae, Makoto Aida, REFERENDUM, Tsuyoshi Ozawa, and others.

"Tokyo Art Zone"

This project is a home page on the Internet that offers information on the artworks of the GALLERY exhibition as well as information on artists and art museums around the world.